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09-26-2009, 12:21 PM
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#1
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Pro
Trade:
GC, Remodels, New Homes, Whatevers biting
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 453
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Fridays riddle of the day
The topics of conversation always amaze me in the mornings before everybody gets into work mode. NASCAR, fishing, hunting, music and cooter are normal everyday occurrences on the ride to work. Yesterday this was presented and was a hot topic all day long. Even got the H/O's input. Here it is:
A rifle mounted level 6 ft off the ground fires a shot across a level field. At the same time the bullet leaves the barrel another bullet is dropped the same distance (6') straight down to the ground. Which bullet hits the ground first?
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09-26-2009, 12:55 PM
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#2
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ampman
Trade:
providing pathways for electrons and protons
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: central florida
Posts: 733
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they hit at the same time
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T.Boone Pickens " by buying foreign oil we are funding both sides of the war "
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The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to ampman For This Useful Post:
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09-26-2009, 01:10 PM
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#3
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Plausible Deniability
Trade:
General Contractor
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Lakewood CA.
Posts: 2,235
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Wouldn't you need to know the velocity of the bullet being shot?
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"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money."
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09-26-2009, 01:19 PM
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#4
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Electron Flow Manipulator
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Electrons for cash
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Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,443
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JumboJack
Wouldn't you need to know the velocity of the bullet being shot?
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Not unless the bullet's velocity is extremely fast, approaching 'escape velocity".
The bullets will fall at the same rate as governed by the laws of Newtonian physics. Only if the fired round can approach the escape velocity of the Earth (roughly 17,500 MPH) could there be a difference in the rate of fall between the two.
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Age is just a number but mine is unlisted.
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09-26-2009, 01:20 PM
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#5
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Curmudgeon
Trade:
carpentry/remodeling/"Yes M'am we do"
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Beech Grove, Indiana, Birthplace of the "King of Cool"
Posts: 10,151
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JumboJack
Wouldn't you need to know the velocity of the bullet being shot?
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Gravity pretty much stays the same.
Unless the velocity is 17,500 mph.
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Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)
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09-26-2009, 01:21 PM
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#6
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Pro
Trade:
GC, Remodels, New Homes, Whatevers biting
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 453
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ampman
they hit at the same time
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That was my answer. Gravitational pull and all...Then as it was pointed out that a bullet will rise a certain amount before it starts to fall. Hence your velocity Jumbo.
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09-26-2009, 01:27 PM
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#7
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Curmudgeon
Trade:
carpentry/remodeling/"Yes M'am we do"
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Beech Grove, Indiana, Birthplace of the "King of Cool"
Posts: 10,151
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 480sparky
Not unless the bullet's velocity is extremely fast, approaching 'escape velocity".
The bullets will fall at the same rate as governed by the laws of Newtonian physics. Only if the fired round can approach the escape velocity of the Earth (roughly 17,500 MPH) could there be a difference in the rate of fall between the two.
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17,500 MPH is "orbital velocity.
Escape velocity is @ 25,00 mph.
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Put your location in your profile!
(Sorry....it seems there really are dumb questions)
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09-26-2009, 07:33 PM
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#8
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egotistical prick
Trade:
Wood Inlay
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Swartz Creek, Michigan
Posts: 2,416
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Wrong, wrong, wrong. You're all fired.
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"Nothing is too good for you guys...and that's exactly what you're gonna get..."
"'Status quo,' as you know, is Latin for 'the mess we're in...'"
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09-26-2009, 07:45 PM
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#9
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Contractor
Trade:
Excavation, Foundation, Concrete
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maryland
Posts: 2,023
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32'/sec/sec is velocity of a falling object, in a vacuum, if I recall.
Humidity, air current and heat would effect the speed at which the 2 objects would fall. And neither is in a vacuum.
I say the dropped projectile hits the ground first.
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09-26-2009, 08:22 PM
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#10
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LRG WoodCrafting
Trade:
Professional Sawdust Producer
Join Date: May 2005
Location: USA, Connecticut
Posts: 3,903
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I would think that the dropped bullet would hit first. But only by a very short time. Because the bullet is going through the air at a high speed of velocity the thickness of the air will make it seem like a denser atmosphere. Therefore it will fall at a slightly slower rate
__________________
Measure Twice Cut Once -- It's a lot easier to cut more off then it is to cut MORON.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HusqyPro
Carpenter by day.
Mad scientist by night.
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http://lrgwood.com
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09-26-2009, 08:43 PM
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#11
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Pro
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general contractor
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Sterling ,Alaska
Posts: 731
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Same time...if air friction is neglected and numerous ballistics anomalies are ignored. 
Last edited by mics_54; 09-26-2009 at 08:48 PM.
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09-26-2009, 08:48 PM
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#12
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LRG WoodCrafting
Trade:
Professional Sawdust Producer
Join Date: May 2005
Location: USA, Connecticut
Posts: 3,903
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mics_54
Same time
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In a vacuum, yes. Earth has a dense atmosphere.
__________________
Measure Twice Cut Once -- It's a lot easier to cut more off then it is to cut MORON.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HusqyPro
Carpenter by day.
Mad scientist by night.
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http://lrgwood.com
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09-26-2009, 08:49 PM
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#13
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Jeff
Trade:
home builder/remolder
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bradford PA
Posts: 268
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Sounds like a mythbuster's episode to me..... 
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09-26-2009, 08:50 PM
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#14
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The Duke
Trade:
Framing, Custom Carpentry, Architectural Design
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Maine
Posts: 3,783
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The dropped bullet does. The rifle isn't really level, but it is tangent to the curvature of the earth. By the time the bullet gets out there 500' or whatever, as small of a distance that it is, there is more space under the shot bullet than the dropped bullet.
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If one advances confidently in the direction of one's dreams,
and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined,
one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours
~Henry David Thoreau
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09-26-2009, 08:54 PM
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#15
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LRG WoodCrafting
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Professional Sawdust Producer
Join Date: May 2005
Location: USA, Connecticut
Posts: 3,903
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Quote:
Originally Posted by framerman
The dropped bullet does. The rifle isn't really level, but it is tangent to the curvature of the earth. By the time the bullet gets out there 500' or whatever, as small of a distance that it is, there is more space under the shot bullet than the dropped bullet.
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That too. Just thought of that as I came back and saw that you posted it. Good catch. 
__________________
Measure Twice Cut Once -- It's a lot easier to cut more off then it is to cut MORON.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HusqyPro
Carpenter by day.
Mad scientist by night.
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http://lrgwood.com
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09-26-2009, 09:07 PM
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#16
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PHB CONSTRUCTION LLC
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Remodeling Contractor
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Grand Rapids, MI.
Posts: 529
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What if the bullet hit a 10 point buck in the level field?
www.phbconstruction.com
Last edited by paulie; 11-16-2009 at 09:52 AM.
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09-26-2009, 09:14 PM
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#17
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LRG WoodCrafting
Trade:
Professional Sawdust Producer
Join Date: May 2005
Location: USA, Connecticut
Posts: 3,903
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paulie
What if the bullet hit a 10 point buck in the level field?
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Then the dropped bullet would hit first.
__________________
Measure Twice Cut Once -- It's a lot easier to cut more off then it is to cut MORON.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HusqyPro
Carpenter by day.
Mad scientist by night.
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http://lrgwood.com
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09-26-2009, 10:00 PM
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#18
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Never lost a battle.
Trade:
General contractor, designer, drafter.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Orange County, CA.
Posts: 601
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It drops at the same rate regardless of velocity. A bullet is a sinning projectile and does not act as an air foil imparting lift (up or down). Even 500 yrds. is not enough for the curvature of the earth to be a factor. At that distance the curvature is significantly less that even a piece of rice paper. The questions properly assumes a dead level field.
Andy.
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09-26-2009, 10:11 PM
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#19
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Electron Flow Manipulator
Trade:
Electrons for cash
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,443
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScipioAfricanus
..........A bullet is a sinning projectile ........
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Freud would have a field day with that little slip! 
Here's the Straight Dope on the matter. Cecil is my hero.
They will hit the ground at the same time. Case closed.
__________________
Age is just a number but mine is unlisted.
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09-26-2009, 10:24 PM
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#20
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LRG WoodCrafting
Trade:
Professional Sawdust Producer
Join Date: May 2005
Location: USA, Connecticut
Posts: 3,903
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScipioAfricanus
It drops at the same rate regardless of velocity. A bullet is a sinning projectile and does not act as an air foil imparting lift (up or down). Even 500 yrds. is not enough for the curvature of the earth to be a factor. At that distance the curvature is significantly less that even a piece of rice paper. The questions properly assumes a dead level field.
Andy.
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Wrong. The curvature of the Earth is 8" per mile. 660' = 1" of drop.
500 yards is about 2.25" of drop. A significant distance.
__________________
Measure Twice Cut Once -- It's a lot easier to cut more off then it is to cut MORON.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HusqyPro
Carpenter by day.
Mad scientist by night.
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http://lrgwood.com
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